Paul Pogba trusts Manchester United to perform against Manchester City without him

Paul Pogba is optimistic that Manchester United can beat rivals Manchester City this weekend despite his suspension.

Pogba believes that United can take three points at Old Trafford, and highlighted the importance of three points:

“I have complete trust in the team. Even if I'm not there, I'll be there watching the game, giving positive energy, and hopefully we're going to win.

“It's a big derby and the atmosphere is going to be big. We want to win, we need to win as well.

“They need to win because they know that we are behind and we are closing and closing.

“We are still eight points behind, so with an eight-point gap we cannot win the league. We are still behind.

“But if I didn't believe that, I'd stop playing football now."

Paul Pogba of Manchester United stamps on Hector Bellerin of Arsenal and is later sent off for the challenge during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Manchester United at Emirates Stadium on December 2, 2017 in London, England.Getty Images

While Pogba remains hopeful, he has acknowledged that he is upset to be missing out on such a big game, however he is not dwelling on his red card:

“I'm very disappointed because I really want to help the team and wanted to be there for this derby.

“We're all playing football to play those kind of games and, unfortunately for me, I won't play. That's destiny.

“I say 'destiny' because I cannot go back in the past. You have to think about the future, the present, obviously, and then after it's the future."

Pogba denied there was any malice in the challenge that saw him sent off, saying that the tackle looked worse than was intended:

“I didn't really speak after the game - I didn't have time - but I think Hector, I know him as well, and I would never give him a tackle like this.

“Unfortunately for me, I thought he would put his feet in and he was in a position that was a disadvantage for me, so I did it.

“It looks very bad, but the intention wasn't like that. They had the decision, the referee, got the red card and that's football.”

Manchester CityGetty Images

The French international knows that the game with be a heated affair with the city rivalry:

“United against City has always been a big, big derby.

“One city, two clubs. You know how it is, so I won't tell you what's going to happen.

“It's going to be a big atmosphere in the stadium and a big game with a big team and big players, so that's the game you want to play.

“Unfortunately I won't play, but I'll be there to help the team mentally.”

David Silva of Manchester City celebrates scoring his sides second goal while Pablo Zabaleta of West Ham United looks dejected during the Premier League match between Manchester City and West Ham United at Etihad Stadium on December 3, 2017 in Manchester,Getty Images

He also believes that United will have to be fully committed for the game, and show the same attacking ruthlessness that they demonstrated in the opening minutes against Arsenal:

“We need to. To win those games you need to give everything. You need to be there offensively, defensively.

“You need to kill the game when you have one chance, because they are City and they have quality as well in front and they can kill the game at any time.

“They're first for good reason, because they've been doing great at the start of the season.

“They keep winning, they didn't lose one game and obviously mentally they're very strong. We need to be as good as they are, mentally.

“Mentally I need to be there to boost the team and hopefully it will help.”